| Surname: | Gaff |
| Initials: | H |
| Rank: | Cpl A/CSM |
| Army Number: | 826 |
| Notes: | MFP. 1 Army. From Guildford. Awarded the 1915 Star, Victory and War Medals. First served abroad (1) France, 20/7/1915. Has 2 x medal cards, 1 x H Gaff and 2 x H Goff. Later WOI. He enlisted in the Oxfordshire Light Infantry. No. 5515 on the 18/9/1897, Born Guildford, Surrey, Age 20 years, Occupation paper hanger, formerly served in the 2 VB Queen's Regiment. Transferred to MFP 27/3/1909. Served Home 18/9/1894 to 7/9/1898, India 8/9/1898 to 16/3/1908, Home 17/3/1908 to 19/7/1915, France 20/7/1915 to 7/11/1919, Home 8/11/1919 to 5/12/1919 to discharge. He was awarded a certificate in Electrical Telegraphy 5/1/1901. Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, Army Order 106 of 1918. Service in France, 21/7/1915 20 Division, 9/12/1915 8 Division, 7/7/1914 15 Ammo Sub Park, 14/10/1916 1 Army, 16/12/1916 4 Corps, 16/4/1918 Le Treport Hospital suffering from gas poisoning. Home address: Mispah Villas, North Road, Stroughton, Guildford. Harry Garr. He has the same No. as L/Cpl F Meadows. MMP. Extract from the Dover Express, 15/10/1909. WOMAN RESCUED FROM DOCKS. Military Policeman's brave act. At the Dover Police Court on Tuesday, before Messrs. M Pepper, E Chitty, and J W Bussey, Mary Jarman, a middle aged woman, who sobbed when the charge was read, was charged with attempting to commit suicide by jumping into the Wellington Dock on Monday night. L/Cpl Harry Gaff, of the Military Foot Police said that on Monday evening he was on police duty on the quayside, with L/Cpl Ashwick, Military Foot Police when a woman ran past them from the roads towards the dock. Something else attracted their attention in front for a moment, as they did not not dream that the woman intended to jump into the water, but hearing groaning they looked about, and found that she had disappeared. he went to the dock side and saw the woman struggling in the water. After throwing off his capo and coat he jumped in, and as he rose to the surface the woman also rose. It was very dark, but he caught sight of her, grabbed her, and swam to the side of a barge with her. There he got assistance, and the woman was taken out of the water, and witness got into a boat. A Constqble came up and took charge of the prisoner, and witness then went home and went to bed, As he was subject to ague, and did not want another attack. The Chairman asked witness if under the circumstances he would get any compensation from the Military authorities for the damage to his uniform. Witness said he was not sure, but he did not think he would. In answer to the Chairman, the prisoner, who was still sobbing, said her husband left her about a fortnight ago. She did not know where he was. The Chairman commended the conduct of the witness Gaff, and said the Bench had in their minds whether they could do anything to make good the damage to his clothes. if anything could be done they would do it. Gaff: Thank you, sir. Police Constable Dunford said that at 10.15 on Tuesday evening he was in Strond Street on duty and hearing a police whistle blown, he ran towards the quayside and when near Mr Hogben's baker's shop he was some people looking into the dock. They aid that a woman had fallen into the water, and looking over he saw a military policeman in the water, holding the woman with one hand and supporting himself by holding the rudder of a barge. Witness jumped aboard the barge and threw a rope to the corporal, and with the assistance of by-standers got another round the woman and hauled her aboard. He found she was conscious and breathing, but she had been drinking. He loosened the clothing round her neck, and then took her to the police station on an ambulance which had been sent for. She said nothing till she got the the police station; then she gave her name and address. Dr E Elliot said he saw the woman at the police station at 10.45. She was wet through, and had evidently been drinking. She stated that she had eaten nothing for three days. A little drink on an empty stomach, combined with the worry of her husband leaving her, had apparently upset her. If she had proper food she would probably look on the world in a better light. The Magistrates remanded the prisoner to the Workhouse infirmary till Monday next that she may have proper food and attention. Extract from the Dover Express, 21/1/1910. Military Policeman's Gallantry. After Church Parade at the Castle on Sunday, Brigadier-General Inglefield presented to Lance Corporal Harry Gaff, Military Foot Police, the Royal Humane Society's bronze medal and certificate for rescuing a woman who threw herself in the Wellington Dock on Monday, October 11th 1909. The General said that Gaff was a brave man, an his comrades would follow his example. He hoped that having the medal would help the recipient throughout his civilian life, after the close of his military career. He then pinned the medal on Corporal Gaff's breast shaking hands with him. |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | Distinguished Conduct Medal (London Gazette: 31370 Page: 6848 June 3, 1919) |
| Citation: | MFP. Notification of DCM. Cpl. |
| Decoration: | Distinguished Conduct Medal (London Gazette: 31819 Page: 3042 March 11, 1920) |
| Citation: | MFP. DCM Citation.826 CORPORAL (ACTING CSM) H GAFF1 ARMY MILITARY FOOT POLICEHe showed marked gallantry under heavy shell fire at Armentieres in 1917 and early in 1918, when the town was deluged with gas. He carried out more than his duty, absolutely fearlessly until, in the end, he himself became gassed. |
| Decoration: | Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal (London Gazette: 68/Humane Soc/ 952 Page: AG2c Dec. 31, 1909) |
| Citation: | Awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal & Certificate. Taken from the annual report of 1909. Case No. 36648. On the 11 October 1909 a woman in an attempt at suicide threw her self into Wellington Dock at Dover. The depth being 15', Gaff plunged in and swam with her to a barge where she was pulled out with ropes. |